The German Integration Model : a successful concept to ensure access to education and access to the labor market for refugees?

This thesis intents to shed light on structural integration policies for asylum seekers and tolerated refugees in Germany. Based on the findings on integration by Esser, the focus is on both access to education and access to the labor market. At first, crucial laws are pointed out to provide an overview of the most important legal regulations in regard to structural integration. However, the main focus of the thesis is on the actual situation of asylum seekers and tolerated refugees in Germany. With the help of a content analysis six studies are analyzed to find an answer to the question to what extent integration policies for refugees in Germany can be regarded as successful. It was found that both access to education and access to the labor market are limited by a number of factors. In general the legal situation, geographic limitations, and knowledge barriers determine how far integration into the educational system and into the labor market can take place. Policies regarding access to education and access to the labor market for refugees in Germany can only be regarded as successful to a limited extent.